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KDRV: Medford, Oregon KDKF: Klamath Falls, Oregon United States |
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Branding | NewsWatch 12 |
Slogan | Watching Out For You |
Channels |
Digital: KDRV: 12 (VHF) KDKF: 29 (UHF) Virtual: KDRV: 12 (PSIP) KDKF: 31 (PSIP) |
Subchannels | xx.1 ABC xx.2 Antenna TV |
Translators | (see article) |
Affiliations | ABC |
Owner |
Heartland Media (Oregon TV License Company LLC) |
Founded | 1984 |
First air date |
KDRV: February 26, 1984 KDKF: October 1989 |
Call letters' meaning |
KDRV: Rogue Valley KDKF: Klamath Falls |
Sister station(s) |
KEZI KHSL-TV KNVN |
Former channel number(s) |
Analog: KDRV: 12 (VHF, 1984–2009) KDKF: 31 (UHF, 1989–2009) Digital: KDRV: 38 (UHF, until 2009) |
Transmitter power |
KDRV: 16.9 kW KDKF: 5 kW |
Height |
KDRV: 823 m (2,700 ft) KDKF: 651 m (2,136 ft) |
Facility ID |
KDRV: 60736 KDKF: 60740 |
Transmitter coordinates | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Public license information: |
/ KDKF Profile / KDKF CDBS |
Website | www |
KDRV, channel 12, is an ABC television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station is located near Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in north Medford. The station is owned by Heartland Media.
KDRV's programming can also be seen in Klamath Falls on KDKF digital channel 29. KDKF has its own newsroom in Klamath Falls.
Prior to 1984, KOBI served as the primary ABC affiliate for southern Oregon, but Medford was only partially covered. Viewers could also receive KATU in Portland on cable. This was partly because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had reserved channel 8, the last VHF frequency in the area, for noncommercial use (currently occupied by PBS member KSYS).
The Medford-Klamath Falls market is one of the geographically largest in the country, covering a large swath of southern Oregon and northern California. This area is very mountainous, and it is very difficult to get decent UHF reception in rugged terrain. However, in 1978, the FCC took the unusual step of dropping in a channel 12 allocation for Medford without anyone requesting such action. While a Christian broadcaster initially made a bid for the station, it was a foregone conclusion that the license would go to Sunshine Television, a local investment group.
KDRV signed on for the first time on February 26, 1984. The station's studio had not been finished yet, and live local programming was not possible from its temporary studio. The new studio was finished later in 1984, and the station was able to begin news and other local programming a year later. Sunshine sold the station to Love Broadcasting in 1987. Chambers Communications bought the station in 1994. KDKF debuted on October 17, 1989.